Textile apparatus.



H. 1.. BROWN.

TEXTILE AP'PARA us.

APPLICATION FILED MAR, P411910.

1,149,718. I Patented Aug. 10, 1915.

Z SHEETS-SHhET L 32;. .3

c annual b1304 H. L. BROWN. TEXTILE APPARATUS,

APPLICATION FILD MAR 14, 1919.

1 1 49,7 1 8; Patented Aug. 10, ,1915.

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Y. UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

fin er L. BROWN, or rATnnsoN, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR T0 BROWN SPIN-WRIGHT COMPANY, on new. 2031:, N. ,Y., A CORPORATION on NEW YORK.

TEXTILE APPARATUS,

nigiems.

To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, HENRY L. Brown, of Paterson, New Jersey, haveinvented certain Improvements in Textile Apparatus, of which the following description, in connection witlrthe accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters 011 13118 drawings designating like parts.

This invention relates to textile apparatus, and is of spedial utility when embodied in mechanism for driving a series of spindles or similar members by means of a member, such as a flexible band, having a portion arranged for right-line movement in the direction of its length, although my improvements may be utilized in any part of the fieldof textiles for which they are adapted by their nature, the term spindle being used as a brief generic designation.

The primary object .of my invention is to provide apparatus for spinning yarn continuously, without breaking, and preferably at a constant, predetermined speed, thus to produce a thread of'a uniform number of turns'to the inch. and also of uniform size and smoothness, of high tensile strength, and free from slugs, bunches or knots; a further important object being to provide for [the simultaneous production of any desired number ofsuch threads of the same size and strength, so that the operation of the loom "for driving such spindles exists which comor sewing machine in which they are to be ised will not be interruptedby the necessity forrepairing hundreds of breaks in one or more Weak threads running through the warp or spool, and creating imperfections therein.-Such simultaneous production of a large number of uniform threads involves the positive actuation at high speeds of a multiplicity of spindles having whirls of relatively small diameter, arranged closely adjacent to each other in the spinning frame, and as atthepresent day no means binesthe capacity-of a flexible band to drive closely arranged small whirls at high speed, with the continuous and uniform actuation cl iaracteristic of positive gearing, an'impor' tant object of my invention is to provide a flexible band with means to be engaged posi- I tively with a rotatable member. smalldispeci ficationof Letters Patent. Patented Aug, 10,1915. Application filed March 14, 1910. Serial No. 549,101.

' ameter to permit actuation of'one by the other at high speed, and this novel technical v effect I; claim broadly. V p The expression band as used herein, is

intended to designate the article usually dev scribed by that term, comprising a substantially continuous, inarticulate member 'as distinguished from a chain orseries of links cooperating pivotally ,at their jointed ends.

With few exceptions, the spindles in operation throughout the world, estimated at over one hundred million in number, are driven by friction bands, and are subject to the disadvantages of operation inherent in' frictionally operated actuating mechanism, including the friction due to lateral drag of the hand upon the spindle, which should be confined as nearly as possible to one pound when the band is properly set, but frequently runs up to three and four pounds and sometimes to seven or. eight pounds when the operative is careless, with an increment of from .00075 H. P. to .00170 H. P. per spindle for each pound of band tension added to the bands, at the ordinary speedsv ranging from T000 to 8000 turns a minute.

The tension. on a band is apt to increase largely during periods of inoperation, when the bands are free to contract. At a very common tension of three pounds, to which the bands of an ordinarily well attended,

frame may pull at any time under heavy moisture conditions, estimating 80 spindles to the H. P., the band tension has been estimated to consume over forty per cent/of the total power required by the whole frame.

'thereagainst. i

Frictionally driven bands and other fric:

tional driving means are liable to' slip on the spindle whirls, in which event the spin: dle runs slow; if the band leaves the whirl,

and engages with the spindle blade: or a spindle part of'ismaller. :diameterthan} the whirl, the spindle speeds. up faster than its neighbors. other sources of variation in speed exist, all of which are obviated by my positively geared flexible band.

Among other important factors contribu- 5 tory to the attainment of the above object isthe. elimination from the spinning operat1on of environmental influences of a character tending to cause variations in thespeed of the spindles, among which influ-.

driving means is included and also the absorption of atmospheric moisture, which varies rapidly often from hour to-hour and causes corresponding variations in the tension of the driving bands in common use to actuate the spindles, these bands being made ordinarily of yarn or other hydroscopic or absorbent materials. Similar tensionalor other speed changes are also induced by the lint, dust and other extraneous substances with which the bands become loaded and their weight and diameter altered, such substances sometimes finding their way also between the whirl and spindle base, if the latter is not kept properly clean, the friction thus caused increasing appreciably the power required to run the spindle affected,

thus reducing itsspeed, so that it will then" turn out a thread. weaker than those from other spindles running atcorrect speed.

Heretofore, the exposed driving bands have been known to take up dirt and sediment to an extent necessitating an extra consumption of .003 H. P. per spindie, which would amount to over half a horse power for a frame of average size, and the bands v selected for a given operation. A ,conven ient mode of carrying into effect this departure from existing practice is to: inclose the actuating band mechanism Within a suitable container where it will be' insulated from the atmospheric changes above recited, and also from the intrusion of foreign, substances, .and this insulation may be served further by'placing in the container oil. or other suitable. fluid "surrounding. the actuating band mechanism wholly or in part. I

In accordance with a valuable feature of .my invention, furthermore lzmay, .and I prefer to, form the driving band of non= I hydrogoscopic material to avoid the absorption of oil, atmospheric-moisture and the 5 like, W1i3l1 its attendant evils, and for this, purpose I- prefer to, form the band so,

ences the irregular absorption of oil by the" ance with the pres.

2, of a modified formof spindle.

In the embodiment ofmy, invention selected for illustration and description to enable a ready and complete understanding of my whether or not the apparatus is provided with a positively geared band and with means to create an artificial environment.

In carrying my invention into effect to accomplish the above recited objects with maxlmum efficiency and notable .simphclty,

,- my positively operating driving means preferably takes the form of an endless flat ribbon of steel having apertures the walls of which constitute the driving surfaces, 1n-

asmuch as this type of band lends itself.

readily to submergence in the oil when I utilize oil in connection withthe means to afford a constant environment, or to act as a lubricant for gearing, the fiat ribbon creating least friction and being the most flexible of a given thickness, while the metal of the band serves as a convenient form of non-hygroscopic material for the composi-. tion of the actua1:-f;' mechanism, in accord erred construction thereof as herein disclosed.

The various features of my invention will v be illustrated and described fully in they ac companying drawings and specifications and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure-1 is a view in side elevation of a spindle for spinning thread and the like, provided in accordance I with my invention with a rotating member,

in cooperation with which is shown a driving.,band, according to my'invention; (this band is best seen in Fig. 8) the spindle being shown in Fig. 1 as mounted upon a special form of spinning-frame-rail, shown in in vertical section of the spindle and bolster illustrated in. Fig. l, on a somewhat'larger scale; Figs. 3 fillCl'l; show, in plan view and side elevation respectively enough of a spin- IUo .uing frame, of well-known form, and provided with a multiplicity of spindleshavng rotating members or whlrls arranged 1n cooperativerelatlon with a band,t o illustrate the operation of the driving mechanism in this frame, in the construction of which my improvements 'have been embodied; Figs. 5, 6 and 7 illustrate respectively in plan, side elevation andpersp'ective the wh rl or rotating member separately,'.

these figures showing a member having three projecting driving wedges, and Figs.- 8, 9 and 10 are views in slde'elevation, plan' and perspective of the same member, show-.

ing also a cooperating continuous .bandor endwise movable member in driving position; and Fig. 11 s a view similar to Fig.

improvements, and referring first to Figs. 1, 3 ,and 4, I have there shown in vertical sectlon, plan view and side elevation .respec:

tively, parts of a spinning frame of the type irs 100 vertical transverse section; Fig. 2 is aview 1 V assesses coir used commonly in silk spinning", having number of spindles, 60, which, in accordance 1 from which a belt '79 is shown as running with a quarter turn around direction pulley 80 to a suitable source of power not shown. The container 69 is formed in continuation of boxes 81 inc-losing the pulleys 74, 75. so

I -that all these operating parts may run in with oil, the mechanism as a whole being supported in any suitable fashion, as by frame 5 members 82. The part designated bythe reference numeral 1 is a rotatable, spindle-- actuating member wnich may be of any convenient material, size and general contour, belng shown in the instance illustrated as .comprising a whirl, sleeve or hub, having peripheral actuating. projections, i, and a longitudinal bore 2 (see Figs. 54.6) adapted to receive be seated upon a rotatable spindle part, such the sleeve 3 of the spinning spindle 60 shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The Whirl l, whatever its form, may be connected in any suitable manner with the spindle blade 60, to rotate the same. being mounted co-axially on the bolster and. dle preferably, however it may be com.

the blade, the expression on the lle "l beingintended indicate 1 arrangement. as of a i ger, and not to perm; of the whirl. to the spindle b not essential, although a convenient formof connection. The whirl or rotating member 1,.may be conveniently formed of metal,

and in the instance illustrated is shown as provided with three equidistant wedge- ;eshaped pro ectmns, a, whose apices 5 preferably lie in the same'transverse plane, which maybe termed the plane of operative 11lovement, and in a peripheral circle, at the side of which the inclined surface 6 of the wedge (see F in. 6.) broadens gradually to the butt 7 of each wedgswhich may be separated by a suitable space from the apex of the next wedge projection, the circumferential face 8 of the,=projections being preferably con-E centric and lying in the same cylindricalsurface, while the api es and corners of the Wedges respectively 'e; preferably slightly rounded as indicated, ons to a oid sharp corners likely to eat}; and tear articles brought in accidentalgcont'act therewith, and also to avoid unnecessary friction upon the cooperating band. These projections may insane toward its-outer surface 8, theline 12 of" openings is: of any suitable size and shape,

'ture 14: .portions la, (4, ust; as one would vary in contouraccording to the require ments of the particular situation in which they are used, without departing from'th'e spirit of my invention, and I have selected crown or the wedge or tooth preferably jl tapers outwardly at 6, decreasing in breadth. i demarcation between the normal portion of I, the wedge, and the tapered portion thereof, being shown clearly in Figs. 5 and 7 l I In accordance with my invention, I pro" vide a cooperating power-transmitting'inexn 'ber 13 (see Figs. 8, 9 and l) movable in the direction. of its length, and preferably sub.- stantially continues, and a convenient, embodiment of this member I have shown in the instance illustrated an endless band of suitable material, such as steel preferably flexible enough to run readily upon theurel atively small pulleys, 74, 75., and provided at intervals (preferably equi-distant) with, I

as. to receivesuccessively the wedge projections I ,I upon the rotating member and cooperate., therewith to transmit power from the band to the spindles. The arrows in the respec-". tive figures indicate the direction of move-[ 0 ment of the c aerating members in the'i n- I l l illustration.

1e as thedriving memresnug particularly to Figs. S he operation of my improved drivad. constructed according to the-Inovel le already deseribed,"may be under 'tood oest" perhaps by considering the ivalls of'the apertures 1% to be divided into 2. pk;- rality of driving regions (4,1), 0' and (1,1(365 Fig.- 8) although asa matter. of fact each wall is continuous and operates continuously upon the wedge projectidns 4:, along the re-g' gion of contact denoted py the line 12 (see- Fin. 5). wnat is said about the upper .wall a, a, c, and d, applying tvith equal (711113131150:- 1; the lower walls a, b", c, d, When the Wedge;

is"symnietrical, having inclined surfaces on eah side of the plane of rotation. v I When the band'is carried in the direction of the arrow Fig. 8, the Wa1ls- 'of the apei grip the Wedge member 4 with their I S I I grip the wedge w th the finger'and thumb-.andpull it around in the direction of the arrow, and

as it is thus pulled the wa-ll portions .bb',

take holdin turn and then the portionscc', and dd, the operation being continuous as already indicated,-the'oonta;ot be l ab y ine; ser e Ze particular importance, I have provided for I h or points along the shoulder 12, form of'--contact being desirable on account of the'low friction factor, although I do not limit myself to the specific contour of the Wedges illustrated in the figures unde con.v Sider'ation.

,Itwill be noted, on close observation of Fig. 8', that the wall region a, a is ready to grip thebroad end of the rearward wedge 4:, practically at the instant at which gripping engagement ceases between the grip ping portion dd, and the thin edge of the forward wedge 4:, so that the rotative impulse imparted to the rotating member 1 is substantially continuous, the degree of sep-- aration between the Wedges respectively and between the cooperating apertures, as well as the contour of these respective parts, bengrcgulated pref rably to accomplish such continuous, actuatlve engagement in most instances, although I do not limitmyself to uninterrupted engagement.

- As indicated in Figs. 8 and 9, the aperture 14 will preferably be slightly longer than the base of the tooth, to afford slight clearance ateach end, and thus permit the bandto sit snugly in against the periphery of the hub 2 of the rotating member, and

therebyfgain the maximum r'otative-efl ect. Summarizing then, this generic feature of driving spinning spindles positively, and

have accomplished this, in the instance illustrated, byapplyingto the shank 60 of such a silk spinning spindle as that shown in- Figs. 1 and 2, a whirl 1', consisting of the rotating member (already described, and havingprojections 4.with which cooperates the band 13 already .described,'whose apertures 14 receive the wedges 4 and their fwallsserve to drive the whirl and spindle 'when the band is moved in the direction "plied as found requisite in particular install'atigns. Suitable positioning devices, such as idlers 11, may be provided at suitable I distances.

The reference numeral 61 indicates a spindle-supporting bolster which r em'ova,bly secured in place, as by bolts 63*,

the threaded sha may be of any suitable construction, and is herein illustrated as of a well-known type having a flange 62 to restnpon a rail 63,

and through-thefiperture 61 in which passes of the bolster, the latter being threaded to'receive a retaining nut v66.- 67 indicates abobbin from which the dust and other extraneous substances, and

to confine the steel band 13 against accidental displacement, with possible injury to operatives, and I also prefer to have the bolster open at the bottom as indicated at 72 in Fig. 2, so that the oil in the container may have free access to the inner bearing 73 or step of the spindle. As the oil can also Work up under the whirl 1, the slip fit of the sleeve Son the bolster being shown with an exaggerated space in Fig. 2, to in dicate' such possibility, there will be to a certain extent a constant circulation of oil along the bearing between the spindle and its bolster, and between the bolster and the sleeve, and much wear will be avoided thereby. v I

It is to be noted that the whirl 1 is preferably located at a region surrounding part of the bolster 61, which may thus afford an extended bearing for the interior of the whirl, the sleeve 3 serving as a Wear member in the instance illustrated, as Well as one convenient means for connecting the whirl corotatively with the spindle-blade 60 (see Fig. 2).

In Fig. 11 I have shown a-modified form of spindle especially adapted to linen and cotton spinning. this modification comprise ing a sleeve 103 of suitable construction to the connected operatively with: the spindle blade, as for example the well-known form ably having a bobbin cup 109 formed .in-

tegrally, or as a unitary structure, with the.

upper portion of the sleeve, while the lower portion thereof is shown as constructed to receive a whirl 101, having drive teeth 104 I of the type already described with reference to the Whll'l 1, this being one suitable form of actuating means when the spindle is to be driven positively bya band such as that designated by the reference numeral 13 and hereinbefore described. Thesleeve 103 with itsbobbin cup 109, and the whirl, 10 1, can

be applied readily to existing spindles, to

equip them for actuation by my "novel positive band-drive.

Having described and illustrated my invention thus fully and suitable means-by which it may be put in practice, I wish it' understood that I do not limit myself to the specific materials and construction selected for illustration and description, nor in gen- 1. Apparatus of the class described, for

treating thread and the like; .said apparatus comprising a plurality'of spindles provided respectively with peripheral V-shaped teeth; a support for said spindles; and an endless metallic band having V-shaped openings to receive said teeth; said band being constructed and arranged to engage progressively the successively presented portions of the inclined surface of each of said teeth to rotate said spindles positively; and means to actuatesaid band; substantially as described.

- 2. Apparatus of the class described, .for treating thread and the. like; said apparatus comprising a series of spindles in a row and provided respectively with peripheral teeth; a support for said spindles; a metallic band sustained to present astraight run substantially tangential to the toothed portions of said spindles, to engage said teeth positively,

' to rotate said spindles; and means to lubriregionof operative engagements; substantially as described.-

a. A' spindle of the class described; comprising a blade having a bearing portion to enter a suitable support; such as a bolster;

a sleeve connected co-rotatively' with said blade; and having a portion to surround a" part of said bearing when in operative position; and a sprocket-wheel-meraber corn? prising a hub mounted upon said bearingsurrounding-portion of said sleeve, and provided with a sprocket tooth of substantially V-shape in transverse section; substantially as -'described.

5. A support of the nature of a rail for apparatus to treat fibrous material such as thread; said support comprising an el'on gated trough-like member of sheet-metal; and an angle-piece secured to the inside of said member and constructed and arranged to receive and support said fiber-treating devices; substantially as described.

6. A support of the nature of a rail for devices, such as spindles, to treat fibrous materials; said support comprising an elongated, trougli-like member of sheet-metal; angle-pieces secured to the respective sides of said member for a substantial portion of its length; a rail plate bridging the space between said angle-pieces and secured removably thereto; and cover members having --cover portions to extend over the open top of said trough from the sides respectively,

and having downward extensions; and cross-bolts passing throughtsaid downward extensions and the walls of said trough to hold said cover members in place.

7. Apparatus of the class described; said apparatus comprising a plurality "of spindles provided respectively with actuating I members having peripheral actuating projections w-ith longitudinally inclined sides; a support for said spindles; an integral metallic band, substantially uniform in thickness throughout its extent, and arranged for right-line movement lengthwise past, and in tangent relation to, said actuating members, with apertures having longitudinally inclined drive walls, to engage said projections positively and progres sively; and means to drive said band, to rotate said spindles positively.

Signed at New York in the county State of New York this lfth day of March,

' HENRY L, BROWN.

Witnesses: I I y ALEXANDER C. Paonorrr, Enva l Fonnnrr. 

